NEW YORK - The Columbia men's basketball team will look to get back on track when they welcome Manhattan to Levien Gymnaisum on Saturday, Dec. 29, at 4:00 p.m.

LIONS’ STATUSColumbia is coming off a heartbreaking 70-69 loss to Elon. The Phoenix’ Jack Isenbarger hit a contested three with 2.3 seconds left on the clock to lift Elon to the victory. Both teams shot the ball well, with the Phoenix converting on 50.8 percent of their attempts and the Lions at a 47.5 percent clip. Steve Frankoski led the Lions with 20 points on 6-of-7 shooting from downtown. Brian Barbour dished out a career-best 12 assists.

JASPERS’ STATUSManhattan has dropped four of its last five, including a tough 63-57 defeat to South Carolina on Dec. 22. Shane Richards scored 18 points on six three-pointers off the bench to lead the Jaspers. Manhattan has been playing most of the season without its best player George Beamon, due to injury. In four games this year, Beamon is averaging a team-high 16.8 points and 6.3 rebounds.

HISTORY NOTES - MANHATTANColumbia rolled to a 59-42 win last season against Manhattan at Draddy Gym behind 22 points from Brian Barbour. The Lions started the game on a 15-2 run and held off an early second half rally by the Jaspers to claim the victory. Manhattan shot just 26.2 percent from the floor and committed 21 turnovers, which resulted in 26 Columbia points.

COLUMBIA AGAINST THE MAACColumbia is 19-22 all-time against teams currrently in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference. This will be the Lions second meeting with a MAAC foe this year after facing Marist on Nov. 17.

FRANKIE SAYS RELAXSteve Frankoski found the range on Dec. 22 against Elon, scoring 20 points on 6-of-7 shooting from downtown. Frankoski set a new season-high in scoring and was one away from tying a personal-best, set against Stony Brook in 2010.

‘TIS THE SEASONSenior Brian Barbour was in the holiday spirit against Elon on Dec. 22, handing out a career-high 12 assists. Barbour also contributed nine points, five boards, three steals and a block in the contest.

ONE TO “WATCH”The honors continue to pour in for Brian Barbour, who was selected as one of 80 players on the 2013 Bob Cousy Award watch list on Dec. 20. The Cousy Award goes to the nation’s top point guard. The list will be trimmed to 20 candidates in early January.

BARBOUR 1KSenior Brian Barbour became just the 25th player in Columbia history to eclipse 1,000 career points in the first half of the Lions’ win at American on Dec. 9. He is the first player to join the prestigious club since Noruwa Agho accomplished the feat during the 2010-11 season.

NOT BAD FOR A ROOKIE, EH?First-year Grant Mullins earned Ivy League Rookie of the Week for the second time this season after his career-high 20-point effort at American on Dec. 10. Mullins first accolade came on Nov. 26 after averaging 14 points in three games and shooting a scorching 11-for-19 (57.8%) from beyond the arc.

LAW OF AVERAGESThe Lions started their game at American 0-for-15 from the field and did not get their first bucket until 10:42 remaining in the first half. Stout defense kept Columbia in the game, and eventually shots began to fall. The Lions knocked down 17 of their last 34 attempts to earn the comeback win.

HANDLE WITH CAREColumbia has become one of nation’s best in taking care of the ball. The Lions 10.6 turnovers per game is the 10th fewest in the NCAA.

CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARDSSenior Mark Cisco became Columbia’s all-time leader in offensive rebounds after grabbing four against Bucknell on Dec. 1. Cisco, who now has 198 offensive boards, passed the mark of 189 previously held by John Baumann (‘08CC).

BALL DON’T LIEColumbia went a perfect 15-for-15 from the free-throw line against Bucknell on Dec. 1. It was the first time a Lions team has gone perfect from the line while shooting 10 or more foul shots in a game since Columbia was 13-for-13 against Princeton on Feb. 5, 1994. In addition, Columbia is converting at a .748 rate from the line this season to lead the Ivy League.